Studies in the Reactions of Silver and Light

[ShannonG]

Here is a video of a interview we did about our upcoming solo gallery exhibit showing large and medium format photography and darkroom work.. Im not much of a tv kinda guy but it works. The producer used some images that are not in the show but that's ok. here is the interview,,,comments very welcomed. (The video starts 40 sec.in or so,and there is a commercial break 1/2 way thru.) thanks for looking and comments are welcomedhttps://youtu.be/0qUP6CCLWzE.

[ShannonG]

at least most of the images shown are in the show..LOL

[Pierre 2]

Image do look nice on youtube. Nice that you will be opening your darkroom to visitor. Maybe it will stir up further interest :-) !!!

In that respect, in a totally different field, I am always surprised to some proponent of the related discipline describe how great they must be to practice such activity, which really does not require any great skills. I always stand to show off how easy and affordable said activity can be in an effort for interested parties not to be put off by perceptions that do not have to be true.

I wish you numerous and interested visitors which should be easy. Also, many interesting visitors !!!

By the way, where is Cedar falls ?

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Congratulations and it is nice to have such a long interview. Nice to hear about touring a darkroom as well. People can see the magic.

[ShannonG]

thanks,,yes im excited to show my darkroom,i would like to do some sort of demonstration in there,, but not sure what yet. Anny ideas?

Cedar Falls is a medium sized University town directly in the center of Iowa,ive lived and worked as a photographer in several different places around the U.S. and this place best suits me.I really like it here and its my home town.


Image do look nice on youtube. Nice that you will be opening your darkroom to visitor. Maybe it will stir up further interest :-) !!!

In that respect, in a totally different field, I am always surprised to some proponent of the related discipline describe how great they must be to practice such activity, which really does not require any great skills. I always stand to show off how easy and affordable said activity can be in an effort for interested parties not to be put off by perceptions that do not have to be true.

I wish you numerous and interested visitors which should be easy. Also, many interesting visitors !!!

By the way, where is Cedar falls ?

[ShannonG]

Thanks Jim,,yes the interview was kinda hard for me as there is so much to talk about and i didnt get everything in but got the point across,,i was nervous..
Yes i thought opening up the studio and darkroom would be fun. Anny ideas for me for a demonstration that wont involve the whole process? Folks around here seem to be looking forward to it so i thought a demo would be cool,,not sure what tho.



Congratulations and it is nice to have such a long interview. Nice to hear about touring a darkroom as well. People can see the magic.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I've given several talks over the years. Something you don't want to do is get to technical. Remember some may not know much about traditional darkroom work. Before the tour ask who may have any experience or knowledge. I would go through the steps in a dry run and explain the feeling behind any dodging or burning that you do. Also, have an exposed sheet of paper in a paper safe and develop it so they can see the magic. That should leave a lasting impression on them and help them understand why traditional methods are so important to us.

I did this type of thing on the last carbon transfer talk I gave and when I put the final image in a tray of hot water and melted the gelatin mess away to reveal the final image they were blown away. Visuals are always a lasting thing. Be relaxed, you are in your environment so talk about your passion. I spent 40 years of my working career in sales so it is easy for me to talk about what I love but still I forget to say something all the time so don't worry about that at all. Have a great time and most of all congratulations.

[ShannonG]

Thanks jim,,Yes i have quite the plans for the lecture we are doing,but thats on a different day at the art center before the open house. (ill ask for more advice on that when the time comes).... Good idea of having a focus sheet in the easel and show them some burning and dodging and then have some exposed paper in the paper safe then processes it for folks to see the image come up.I think that would make a impact and not take too much time as ill have a studio full of folks and can have only a few in the darkroom at one time i wouldn't go thru the whole process ,,just stop after the fix. Thanks again,,good ideas here.